Sectional structural member and connecting means usable therewith



Apr1l4, 1967 R. c. ROLLAND 3,312,021

SECTIONAL STRUCTURAL MEMBER AND CONNECTING MEANS USABLE THEREWITH Filed May 12, 1964 INVENTOR.

ROBERT C. ROL LAND FIG.2.

AT TORNE Y Unite State This invention relates to wall structures comprising prefabricated components and adapted for rapid erection and dismantling, as for conversion purposes or for reuse at another building site.

Objects of the invention include the provision of such wall structures which when erected will be strong and possess extremely good insulating characteristics, preventing the transmission of mechanical shocks, as well as sound waves and electric currents from one side of the wall to the other, and which will nevertheless be very easy and quick to assemble and disassemble and will be dismantlable without damaging the component parts.

Another object is the provision in such wall structures of improved means for comprising the vertical frame members or columns of the structure to impart heightened mechanical resistance thereto. A further object is to prO- vide improved joining means for interassemblin g the vertical and horizontal frame members of the Wall structure, and for assembling Wall panelling to the frame members. An important object lies in the provision of a structural member of improved sectional configuration having especially desirable characteristics for use in a wall structure of the type disclosed. An advantage of the improved structural member and of walls constructed therefrom lies in the ease with which auxilary components and fittings of various description, including wall panels, door frames, articles of furniture such as cupboards, shelving and the like, as well as piping, plumbing and electrical fixtures, etc. can be associated for support from said structural member thereby facilitating building operations.

In accordance with an important aspect of the invention there is provided in a building having a base and roofing, Wall structure comprising a pair of parallel spaced vertical structural frames each including vertical and horizontal frame members in the form of longitudinally recessed sectional members, paneling supported from the frame members of the respective frames to seal the openings between said members thereof, and means engageable with the upper and lower ends of said vertical members for compressing said vertical members between said base and roofing.

Preferably there are associated with the vertical members, upper and lower pressure-transmitting members having projections inscrtable into the upper and lower ends, respectively, of said recesses in the vertical members, and jacking means are associated with at least one e.g. the lower one, of the pressure-transmitting members to apply a vertical force thereto toward the other pressuretransmitting member for compressing said vertical members.

The above and further objects, aspects and features of the invention will stand out from the ensuing exemplary description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away,

of a wall structure according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional View of structural frame member used in a preferred form of the invention;

atent Free FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a Wedge-like two-part means used in interassembling the vertical and horizontal frame members;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of other wedge-like means used in assembling a frame member and a wall panel; and,

FIG. 5 shows part of a frame member in cross section and an alternative means for assembling a wall panel thereto.

Shown in FIG. 1 is a wall structure according to the invention in process of erection. The wall structure includes vertical upright members 101a, 1011) positioned opposite one another across the wall, and horizontal members, two pairs of which are shown. Horizontal members 102a and 103a are secured at their one ends to vertically spaced points of the upright member 101a, and horizontal members 1021) and 103k are secured at their one ends to vertically spaced points of the upright member 1011;.

All the structural members referred to above, both uprights 101a, 1011: and horizontal cross members 102 and 103, are of the type presently described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.

The wall structure further includes wall panels or slabs, including an outer panel 104 secured in engagement with the outwardly directed surfaces of the cross members 102b, 103b, and outer panel 105 secured in engagement with the outwardly directed surfaces of cross members 102a, ltiSa and an intermediate panel slab 1G8 mounted in the space between the opposite cross members and serving primarily for sound proofing purposes rather than mechanical support.

The outer wall panel 105 is shown as having its lower edge engaging by way of a grooved joint with a plinth member 106 the lower edge of which engages the ground. The uoper edge of wall panel 10-5 similarly engages by Way of a grooved joint with a cornice member 107 forming part of the roofing of the building.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that in the Wall structure described the vertical and horizontal structural members 101, M2, 103 designated with the subscripts a and b respectively constitute two mutually independent vertical wall frames, each frame provided with its own panelling, so as to provide two horizontally spaced wall structures which are structurally independent from one another insofar as the transmission of loads stresses and energy is concerned.

The vertical members 101a, ltllb, have their lower ends engaged by the upwardly projecting prongs or legs 10901, 10912, of a bifurcated base member 110, and have upper ends similarly engaged by the downwardly projecting prongs of a bifurcated top member 112, shown on the point of being inserted into engaged position as indicated by the arrow fl. The bifurcated base mem her 110 has a prismatic under surface which is engageable by the complementarily shaped surface of a jacking member 111 later described in greater detail and serving to locate and secure both separate side structures of the wall rapidly and accurately in their prescribed relationship and compress the vertical frame members in a mannet that will later appear.

Referring to FIG. 2, each of the sectional members used according to the invention in the wall structure described preferably has the shape shown in that figure and described as follows. The member includes a flat web 114 with perpendicular flanges 115e, 115d connected to ts ends to provide a generally H-shaped configuration. Connected with the oppositely-projecting ends of the ianges 1150, 115d are a further pair of perpendicular dde flanges such as 116e, 1170. There are thus provided it the opposite sides of the main web 11 1 the pair of rectangular channel recesses designated a and b, it be- ,ng noted that one channel recess, that designated 12, is here somewhat greater in depth dimension than the Jther. Moreover, one of the 'afore-mentioned side flanges at each end of the web, herein the side flange 117 associated with the deeper side channel 11, is extended outward away from the web and has connected to its outer end -a further flange 1118, extending parallel to the flange 115 towards the plane of web 114, and terminating substantially on the said plane. The flanges 115, 117, 118 at each end of web 114 thus define a rectangular channel recess or groove R, which grooves are designated Rc and Rd at the respective ends of the web.

In assembling an upright member, e.g. 10111, with a horizontal member, e.g. 1031), in order to provide a node of one of the two spaced wall frames of the wall structure shown in FIG. 1, the following procedure is used. Part of the flanges 117-418 of the horizontal member 1113b corresponding in length to the depth of groove R, is cut away from the end of said horizontal member, and the horizontal member is presented to the vertical member so that a tenon-like portion of the horizontal member, as defined by the afore-mentioned cutaway, engages the outer surface of the flange 115 of the vertical member. The horizontal member 103 is then blocked in position relative to the vertical member 101, preferably using for this purpose a two part joining member of the kind shown in FIG. 3.

This joining member comprises a wedging element 119 of tapered form having a serrated side surface 119e, and a counterwedging element 120 of bifurcate shape, having a slot 121 adapted to receive the wedging element 119 within it, and a serrated outer surface 1202. The serrations are inclined in a direction reverse from the direction of insertion indicated by arrow f2. The element 120 further has a transverse end flange as shown at 122. Preferably both elements are made of a suitable strong, resilient compressible material. It is noted that the max imum width dimension 1 of wedge element 119 is slightly greater than the depth dimension of the channel recess a of the sectional members, while the dimension h of the joining elements 119 and 1120 is very slightly less than the dimension indicated at h1 as representing the width of the recesses a and b of the sectional member in FIG. 2.

In using this two-part joining member for blocking a horizontal cross member such as 1113b in position relative to a vertical member 101b, after the members have been relatively positioned in the way explained, the wedge element 119 is inserted into the channel recess a of the horizontal member 103 until its thicker end abuts with the outer surface of flange 115 of the vertical member 101. Next the bifurcate element 120 is inserted into the recess a so that its slot 121 engages around the wedge element 119, and pressure is applied to the transverse flange 122 to force the two sides of slot 121 apart by the wedging action of element 119. The outer surfaces of element 120 are then forced into firm engagement with the surface of the web 114 of horizontal member 103 on one side, and with the inner surfaces of the flanges 116 on the other side, so as to block the horizontal member firmly in position relative to the vertical member, with the flanges 118 and the flanges 116 of the respective members being positioned in tightly abutting relation for good transfer of loads and stresses between said members at the node of the frame assembly.

The jacking unit 111 earlier referred to comprises a pair of horizontally spaced members 123a and 1231) interconnected by a threaded rod 125 having two oppositepitch screw threads, not shown, formed on it and engaging complentarily threaded holes formed in the respective members. The members 123a and 12 3b have oppositely inclined upper surfaces adapted to seat the correspondingly shaped lower end surface of the bifurcate member engaging the lower ends of the pair of opposite uprights such as 1111a and 1111b, and have oppositely inclined under surfaces as shown adapted to engage the correspondingly shaped upper surfaces of a base member 124 seated on the ground.

In erecting uprights such as 101a and 101b of the wall structure, the upper bifurcate member 112 is first applied with its downwardly directed prongs in engagement with the upper ends of the channel recesses a of the pair of uprights, as indicated by arrow f1. The cross leg of the bifurcate member 112 is preferably made of resilient material and is serrated for engagement with the under surface of a horizontal beam or joist of the roof of the building, not shown, so as to provide efficient transmission of loads between such beam and the upright. The lower bifurcate member 110 is then inserted with its upwardly directed prongs inserted into the lower ends of the re cesses of the uprights 101a and 101b, and with its inclined under surfaces seated on the corresponding inclines of the pair of jacking members 123a and 123]). The dual= threaded screw shaft 125 is then rotated in a direction to draw the jacking members 123a and 12% towards each other (arrow f3), whereby an upward vertical force component as indicated by arrow v is applied to the lower ends of the uprights 101a, 101b, and both said uprights are simultaneously compressed between base and roof of the building; It will be understood that in erecting the building, the normal procedure would consist of first erect= ing the uprights such as 101a and 1131b in the manner last described using the associated jacking means such as 111, then the horizontal cross members such as 102 and 103 would be mounted in their proper positions relative to the uprights and blocked in such positions as earlier described using the two-part wedge-type joining means 119420, Thereafter the wall panelling would be applied to the structural frame thus erected, preferably using for this purpose joining members of the type shown in FIG. 4;

The joining member shown is a two-part wedging them-- her somewhat similar to that described with reference to FIG. 3 and including cooperating, serrated wedging and counter-wedging elements 127 and 128, the latter pro vided with a transverse flange (shown at the bottom of the drawing) for applying force to it.

The element 127 is formed in its outer (upper, as shown) end part for engagement with a hook-like clamp member, shown in dot-dash lines, which projects from a panel element such as 105 (FIG. 1) for example. It will be understood that the wall panel elements such as 104, 105, as well as the plinth and cornice components such as 106 and 107 may be fitted at suitably spaced locations with hook-like clamps of the type shown in FIG. 4 for engagement with the wedging elements 127. With these elements inserted into the channel recesses a or b of the upright members such as 101, and engaged with the pr0- jecting clamps of the panel elements, the counter-wedging element 128 may then be inserted into the said channel recess and force may be applied thereto by way of its transverse flange for blocking the wedging element 127 in relation to the wall panel clamp.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative means for the attachment of the wall panels to the structural members of the wall frame, in the form of a resilient joint or bead 129 having a base surface adapted for engagement with the outer surface of a flange and the inner surface of a flange 116 of a structural member, a side groove engageable tightly around an adjacent flange 118 of said member, and another groove 129a, in the side of the bead remote from that seated on flange 115, and engageabie around the edge part of a relatively thin wall panel element indicated at 130.

The means described herein provide an extremely versatile and convenient wall structure, and may be used in various ways other than that shown by way of example in FIG. 1. Thus, while that figure shows a pair of vertical upright members 101a and 101b in adjacent opposed relation, a pair of upper horizontal cross members 102a and 102b in adjacent opposed relation, and two lower horizontal members 103a and 1113b in vertically offset relation, it will be apparent that these relationships are illustrative only. The upright members need not necessarily be disposed in opposite pairs as are the members 101a, 1011:. Where a single upright member is used in a wall structure according to the invention rather than a pair of opposite uprights as here shown, jacking means similar to those described above may nevertheless be used for compressing the upper and lower ends of such single upright between the base and roof structure of the building. In such case the pressure-transmitting end members 110 and 112 used in conjunction with such single upright might be provided with but a single prong or leg engageable with a recess a or b of the upright, and an auxiliary wedging member, which might be similar to that shown at 128 in FIG. 4, might be used in conjunction with the jacking means to provide the necessary backing or reaction force when the two parts of the jacking means are forced towards each other.

The relatively few different components described herein make it possible quickly and easily to provide strong wall structure having excellent insulation properties, quick to assembly and dismantle, and of widely varied forms. Thus, part of the panelling provided on one or both sides of the dual Wall structure of the invention, may be replaced with any desired furniture fixtures such as shelving, show-windows, wall-cupboards, door frames, and the like. In an application to show-windows, the panelling used may include transparent or translucent slabs, and in that case the attaching means shown in FIG. 5 would be especially useful. Similar attaching means may be used in securing door frames to the structural members,

-i.e. grooved beads similar to bead 129 seated against outer flange surfaces of the structural members and having their grooves engaging with other flanges of the members, and such beads may be formed to constitute the jambs of the door frames.

Wall structures according to the invention are easily dismantled for modification, or reuse elsewhere. In pulling down the structure partly or in whole, the general procedure used would be reverse from that described in connection with erecting operations. That is, the panel elements would first be disengaged from the structural frame members, the cross members would be disengaged from the uprights, and the jacks 111 would be operated for dismounting the uprights. In disengaging the horizontal from the vertical frame members, a suitable plierslike tool may be used for compressing the wedge elements 120 around the wedge elements 119 in order to relieve the blocking pressure and permit withdrawal of the twopart joining means.

All such dismantling operations can easily and quickly be performed without any damage to the component parts.

Various iping, plumbing and other fittings may conveniently be associated with the structural members in a wall structure according to the invention. If desired, some of the wedging elements, such as the elements 127 used in connecting the panels to the frame members may be provided with resilient clamps and/or cradling means for supporting such piping and other fittings.

Various other possibilities, and modifications of the means disclosed above, will occur to those skilled in the art. As one example, the means for attaching the wall panel elements to the frame members may include riderlike clamps from a suitably resilient material engageable with the edges of the side flanges 117 of the horizontal structural members, and having a laterally projecting shoulder or the like engageable with a hook-like member I 6 projecting from a wall panel. Such a clamp may further be provided externally with a longitudinally extending head portion resiliently seated against a surface of the panel element.

A major characteristic of a wall structure in accord ance with the invention lies in the structural separation inherently present between the two spaced side assem blies constituting the structure, whereby mechanical shocks applied to one side surface of the structure will not be transmitted to the other side. Similarly sound and heat will not be substantially transmitted across the wall structure. In other words the wall structure of the invention possesses extremely good insulation properties.

What I claim is:

1. In a building having a base and roofing, wall structure comprising a pair of parallel spaced vertical frames each including vertical and horizontal frame members having longitudinal recesses therein, said vertical mem bers including at least one pair of members disposed in oppositely registering relation as between the two frames, an upper and a lower pressure-transmitting member having parallel spaced prongs projecting vertically therefrom for insertion into the upper and lower ends, respectively, of said recesses of both vertical members of said pair, at least one of said pressure-transmitting members having oppositely-sloping inclines on the side thereof directed away from said vertical member, and jacking means associated with said one pressure-transmitting member and comprising a pair of vertical elements movable towards and away from each other and having oppositely-sloping inclines engageable with said inclines of said one pressure-transmitting member, and actuator means for moving said elements relative to each other to apply a vertical force through said inclines to said one pressure-transmitting member for compressing both said vertical members.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said actuator means comprises a screw rod with threaded portions of reverse pitch and correspondingly threaded aligned holes in said elements.

3. In a building having a base and roofing, wall structure comprising a pair of parallel spaced vertical frames each including vertical and horizontal frame members, said frame members being in the form of longitudinally recessed sectional members, upper and lower pressuretransmitting members having projections insertable into the upper and lower ends, respectively, of said recesses of the vertical members, jacking means associated with at least one of the pressure-transmitting members to apply a vertical force thereto towards the other pressuretransmitting member for compressing said vertical members, and joining means for interassembling said vertical and horizontal members in each frame, said joining means including two-part wedging means at least one part of which is of a resiliently compressible material, said wedging means being insertable into a longitudinal recess of one of the frame members and the two parts of said wedging means being thereupon forceable into wedging interengagement to block said one frame memher with respect to the other.

4. In a building having a base and roofing, wall structure comprising a pair of parallel spaced vertical frames each including vertical and horizontal frame members, said frame members being in the form of longitudinally recessed sectional members, upper and lower pressuretransmitting members having projections insertable into the upper and lower ends, respectively, of said recesses of the vertical members, jacking means associated with at least one of the pressure-transmitting members to apply a vertical force thereto towards the other pressuretransmitting member for compressing said vertical members, panels supported from the frame members of the respective frames to seal the openings between said members, and means for supporting said panels including two- 3 3 art wedging means at least one part of which is of a References Cited by the Examiner esiliently compressible material and clamp means pro- UNITED STATES PATENTS ecting from each panel and engageable with one of said arts of the respective Wedging means, said Wedging 2,969,565 1/1961 L SL422 neans being insertable into a longitudinal recess of a 5 31042195 8/1962 Leat at 52 122 rame member and the two parts of said wedging means 3115-572 10/1964 Oppenhmzm at 52 -476 X eing thereupen forceable into Wedging interengagement 0 block said clamp means in relation to the frame HARRISON MOSELEY P'lmmy Exammer' nember. I. K. BELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A BUILDING HAVING A BASE AND ROOFING, WALL STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PAIR OF PARALLEL SPACED VERTICAL FRAMES EACH INCLUDING VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL FRAME MEMBERS HAVING LONGITUDINAL RECESSES THEREIN, SAID VERTICAL MEMBERS INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF MEMBERS DISPOSED IN OPPOSITELY REGISTERING RELATION AS BETWEEN THE TWO FRAMES, AN UPPER AND A LOWER PRESURE-TRANSMITTING MEMBER HAVING PARALLEL SPACED PRONGS PROJECTING VERTICALLY THEREFROM FOR INSERTION INTO UPPER AND LOWER ENDS, RESPECTIVELY, OF SAID RECESSES OF BOTH VERTICAL MEMBERS OF SAID PAIR, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PRESSURE-TRANSMITTING MEMBERS HAVING OPPOSITELY-SLOPING INCLINES ON THE SIDE THEREOF DIRECTED AWAY FROM SAID VERTICAL MEMBER, AND JACKING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ONE PRESSURE-TRANSMITTING MEMBER AND COMPRISING A PAIR OF VERTICAL ELEMENTS MOVABLE TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND HAVING OPPOSITELY-SLOPING INCLINES ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID INCLINES OF SAID ONE PRESSURE-TRANSMITTING MEMBER, AND ACTUATOR MEANS FOR MOVING SAID ELEMENTS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER TO APPLY A VERTICAL FORCE THROUGH SAID INCLINES TO SAID ONE PRESSURE-TRANSMITTING MEMBER FOR COMPRESSING BOTH SAID VERTICAL MEMBERS. 